A Moment Like You (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,84
what am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?”
“There’s always an option. You can go back to school, find your passion, build something from the ground up. A husband is never the answer,” I explain.
“Henry is a lot better than my father was with my mother or any of his ex-wives or the women in turn. I…we’ve been going to a marriage counselor, and when we leave the session I think to myself, what am I doing here?”
Then she repeats, “What am I really doing here? This guy doesn’t want anything to do with me. If I take away his company, he’d be fine living with his brothers and managing this town.”
“He would,” I agree. Old Henry couldn’t wait to get out of here, but now he’s ready to settle down and make this the greatest town in the world. Not only for the tourists, but for his family and all future Aldridges. “How do you convince a man that you’re the right woman for him?” she asks out loud.
“I’m from a different world, Martina. If a guy doesn’t want to be with me, I move on and keep going with my life. There has to be something different for you. Have you ever thought about what you want to do for yourself? Being a wife, a daughter, a mother, a sister…they are important, but what about your identity?”
“I…I wanted—I don’t remember. If I go back home and tell my dad to pay for college because I had a change of heart, he’s going to remind me that this was my last chance. He’s cutting me off from his company which belongs to my brothers once he’s dead.”
My head snaps and I look at her with a smile. “How about if he dies before you’re married?”
“I’m not part of his will,” she mentions. “He did the same with my sister. The guy she married is going out with some model. She refuses to divorce him because the longer she stays in the marriage, the more she gets in alimony once they split.”
Sadly, I know this is something that happens every day, not only in New York, but in many places. Women depending on men because they made us feel like we can’t be anything without them. Martina has a lot of flaws, and she needs to work on herself, but she’s going to take charge of her life.
“No,” I declare. “You’re going to decide your future. You’ll show your misogynistic father that he underestimated you.”
“What are you talking about?” she asks, confused.
“Let’s go to my house. We have a lot to plan.”
Thirty-Four
Henry
It’s Friday night, and we’re hanging out at Beacon's place. Yes, my baby brother has an underground home. This asshole is a genius. He had contractors from other states coming in to work on it so no one would know.
This guy could work for the CIA. He’d be a perfect spy. He even has a tunnel that takes him from the studio to the garage, and he’s having one built toward the house.
The best part about coming to his lair is that we can spend the night playing poker, pool, or throwing darts without being under the microscope of the town.
It sounds bad, but the townies don’t trust us yet. We do our best to blend and be a part of their community, but they don’t miss a chance to publish our pictures and either wonder about our lives or just trash us because we’re Aldridges and our ancestors always treated them as if they were inferior.
“What’s happening with Martina?” Pierce asks while we’re playing pool. “I’ve barely seen her in the past couple of days.”
I glance at him, then at the table looking at all the angles.
“It’s not chess. It’s fucking pool,” Vance grunts. “Why did you invite them, Beac?”
“They discovered the place. I can’t just make up shit anymore,” he answers with annoyance, then gives Pierce, Hayes, and me a warning glare. “I adore your women, but if they start hanging out down here I’m moving back to Seattle. I need some alone time. You people are overwhelming which is why I have this place. Not for you to spend your Friday nights hanging out.”
“He has a temper,” I mock him then look at Pierce and shrug. “Apparently she’s friends with Sophia. She’s been going with her to Aldry’s all week.”
“That’s…” Pierce narrows his gaze, giving me a suspicious look. “Have you asked Sophia what’s happening?”